Policy failures in these area have long-term effects on youth and communities. However, youth and community voices are often missing at decision making tables. We firmly believe that those who are most affected by policy successes or failures are the best advocates for change in our communities. Recognizing the proverbial “full plates” that educators must balance, we compiled this Youth and Community Justice Tool-kit to offer educators easily-accessible information and interactive ways to teach it to their young people.

New York is one of only two states in the country that have failed to recognize what research and science have confirmed– adolescents are children, and prosecuting and placing them in the adult criminal justice system doesn’t work for them and doesn't work for public safety. But New York continues to be the only state other than North Carolina that prosecutes ALL youth as adults when they turn 16 years of age.

The creation of juvenile and family courts offered states the ability to hold youth accountable for their actions, provide age‐appropriate rehabilitative services, and protect children from the dangers of incarceration with adults. While most of these courts initially maintained jurisdiction over a child until he or she turned sixteen many eventually raised the court’s age of jurisdiction to eighteen and provided legal mechanisms to waive children committing more egregious crimes into the adult system.

Children, families and communities across New York State need our justice system to treat youth and young adults in age-appropriate ways. New York
State cannot remain one of two states to automatically charge 16 and 17 year olds as adults in the criminal justice system. Governor Cuomo’s FY2015 Budget Proposal to Raise the Age represents a bold step in favor of New York’s youth and communities.